Loom



Feb. 1, 1938. A. w. DRQBILE f 2,106,727

LOOM

Filed Aug. 23, 1933 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 1, 1938; A, w, DR l E 2,106,727

LOOM

Filed Aug. 23, 1953 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 1, 1938. w, DROBILE 2,106,727

LOOM

,Filed Aug. 25, 1933 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 Feb. 1, 1938. A. w. DROBILE 2,106,727

LOOM I Filed Aug. 23, 1933 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 Feb. 1, 1938. A. w. DROBILE LOOM Filed Aug. 23, 1933 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Feb. 1, 1938. A. w. DROBl LE LOOM Filed Aug. 25, 1953 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 Feb. 1, 1938. DROB|LE 2,106,727

7 LOOM Filed Aug. 23, 1933 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 pl! Al Feb. 1, 1938. A. w. DROBILE LOOM Filed Aug. 23, 1955 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 Patented F eh. I, 1938 LOOM Albert W. Drobile, Wayne, Pa, assignor. to Collins & Aikman Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Application August 23,- 1933, Serial No. 686,458

20 Claims. (Cl. 139-20) My invention is a loom in which the'package or packages of yarn for supplying the weft do not enter the sheds formed by the warps, but are supported by a stationary holder and sections of 5 weft threads drawn therefrom are bent into loops and inserted in the sheds by weft carriers which are positively controlled throughout their movements andwhich both form the weft loops and insert them in the Warp sheds.

In accordance with my invention, a section of weft yarn is stretched across the path of a positively controlled weft carrier by devices at least one of which is movable across the path of the weft carrier, and with at least one of which de- 15 vices the weft thread makes a running connection while such yarn is still connected with the cop. The movement of the weft carrier draws additional yarn from the cop through the member with which it has a running connection and si- 2 multaneously loops such yarn and inserts it into a shed formed by the manipulation of warps by usual shedding mechanism.

My invention is particularly applicable to looms for the production of fabrics having picks lying in insert wefts positioned byone or a pluralityof' :LJ yarn drawing out or stretching devices. Pref- I erably, however, I provide a plurality of positively controlled weft inserters or carriers. in different planes on each side of the loom, and likewise provide a plurality of devices on each side of the :33 loom for drawing out yarn in the paths of the weft carriers or inserters.

The weft carriers may each carry the weft thread engaged and inserted thereby all the way across the shed, but preferably the weft carriers 4') are arranged in complementary pairs and provided with complementary transfer heads by which the bight of a loop inserted into the shed by one head may be transferred, midway of the shed, to the"-other head of the pair, and on the 45 withdrawal of the latter head the transferred weft loop is drawn outtherethrough so as to forin a straight pick extending from one selvage to the other.

Each weft carrier head is preferably provided 51) with means for both insertinga loop and for withdrawing and straightening'out one leg of a loop inserted by a complementary head.

I also provide clipping mechanism by which the weft'threads may be cut at desired intervalsbut 55 preferably after every other insertion of a yard length by a weft carrier, which preferably lays a length of weft in each of sequential sheds, such picks being connected by a bight at the selvage and forming connected picks of hairpin-like shape with warps crossed between them and held against 5 raveling by the bight of the hairpin. The mechanism may, however, be so operated as to lay one leg of .a hairpin in the upper shed andthe other leg of the hairpin in the lower shed of two superposed warp sheds. In such case, the bights of adjacent hairpins may be at the same or opposite selvages, and the free ends of the wefts may be secured by weaving a doup or leno selvage.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention, the mechanism on each side of the loom for stretching the weft yarns in the paths of the weft carriers operating on such side of the loom comprises a pair of stationary grippers, which are positioned in planes on opposite sides of the paths of the weft carriers in their movements into the sheds. Yarns are led from a compact supply of weft yarn to such grippers through eyes in the ends of lever arms which may be reotilineally movable relative to one another and are oscillatable about an axis so as to carry sections of the threads running through the eyes to the opposite sides of the paths of the weft inserters from the gripper by which such threads are then held. The threads are held by one gripper during the insertion of one pick and by the other gripper during the insertion of the next pick, after which the thread is preferably cut in ad J Vance of the gripper then holding the yarn. Each gripper and cutter mechanism may be provided with a light weight tension device and guide pins to restrain any movement of a free end of a thread until it is moved positively by a weft carrich The rectilineal movements of eye-containing arms relative to one another spaces the respective threads carried thereby so that they may be laid inthe paths of vertically spaced weft carriers. The eye-containing arms on one side of the loom may be moved rectillineally relative to one another and oscillatetd about their axes together or oppositely to one another and may be actuated in loom, and the two legs of one hairpin may be inserted into different sheds of the same ground of a fabric or may be inserted into a shed of the ground. and the shed of the frieze loops of alooped fabric or into sheds of different grounds of a double fabric.

All or any desired number of the eye-contain ing oscillating arms may be threaded, and the I remaining eyes left unthreaded when necessary to produce a desired sequence, and the eyes may be threaded with different colored threads or threads of different fibres and manipulated manually or by suitable mechanlsmto secure a desired sequence of wefts in the warp shed or sheds. For instance, one rectilineally movable eye-containing arm on each side of the loom may be threaded and the arm on one side of the loom positioned by a cam to stretch a thread in the path of the weft inserter for the upper shed for two successive picks while the rectilineally movable threaded arm on the opposite side of the loom is positioned by a suitable cam to stretch a thread in the path of the weft lnserters for the lower shed during the same successive picking motions of the loom. Thereafter the eye-containing arms on the opposite sides of the loom may be rectilineally shifted so that the arm first named provides picks for two successive sheds for v the lower ground while the arm second named provides picks for two successive sheds of the upper ground.

The weft inserters preferably each comprise a head having arms forming a yoke across the mouth of which the bight of a loop is stretched during insertion, and having a stem comprising jaws,forming an eye to receive the bight of a loop carried by the yoke of a complementary head. Each of the complementary pairs of heads is provided with spreading means for opening the jaws of the stem of the other head. These heads are operable as small shuttles under positive control throughout their movements by their attachment to needles or bands which are drawn into and extruded from curved guideways or tracks. The needles on each side ofthe loom may be operated sequentially-by independently operable oscillatory arms, or they may be operated simultaneously by a single oscillatory arm, in either case the differences in the lengths of their curved paths resulting from the difl'erence in the radii thereof may be compensated for by any suitable compensating mechanism so that both heads are projected the same distanceinto the sheds.-

Looms embodying my invention may be provided with any usual accessory motions, such as shedding, let-off, take-off, splittingand pile delivery motions.

The characteristic features and advantages of my improvements will further appearfrom the following description and the accompanying drawings of aloom in which is incorporated a preferred embodiment of my improvements.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a loom embodying my improvements; Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof; Fig. 3 is an elevation of the end of the loom taken from the right hand end of Fig. 1; Fig. 3a is a fragmentary transverse section taken through the loom illustrating a modified form of beat-uprFig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevation of the loop-forming device at the left hand end of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on'the line 5-5 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 4; Fig. 7 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view on the line l-l of Fig.

4; Fig. 8 is a. fragmentary sectional view of a gripper operating mechanism taken on the line 88 of Fig. 4; Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view 'of a clipper operating mechanism taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 4; Fig. 10 is a fragmentary View of a second gripper operating mechanism taken on the line l0l0 of Fig. 4; Fig. 11 is an irregular fragmentary view of mechanism for drawing Weft yarns across the path of weft inserting devices and taken on the line I l-'H of Fig. 4; Fig. 12 is an enlarged perspective View of the ends of the weft carriers when approaching transfer position; Fig. 13 is an enlarged perspective View of the ends of the weft carriers .taken at right angles to the view shown in Fig. 12

and with the ends of the weft carriers moved closer to transfer position; Fig. 14 is a. detailed side elevation showing the transfer members in such position that one of the transfer members is being opened by the other; Fig. .15 is a perspective view of a modified form of end for a weft carrier; Fig. 16 is a detailed fragmentary view of the upper portion of the needle tracks and of the needle actuator arm; Fig. 17 is a transverse sectional view on the line I1-'-ll of Fig. 16; Fig. 18 is a view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 16 with the needles advanced to transfer position and one needle advanced relative to the other to compensate for the curvature of the raceways. Fig. 19 is a fragmentary front elevation of a modified form of needle track and needles; and Fig. 20 is an end view of themechanism shown in Fig. 19 looking in the direction of the arrows.

As illustrated in the drawings, my invention is embodied in a loom (Fig. 1) having a frame I in which is journalled a main shaft 2 driven through a gear 3 and pinion 4 from any suitable source of power, such as the shaft 5 having usual fast and loose pulleys thereon. (Figs. 1, 2, and 3.)

the lay is having thereon the reed I8 (Figs. 1, 2,

and 3) fulcrumed on the rock shaft i9 and oscillatable in the usual manner.

The shaft H has fixed thereto beveled gears 20 (Figs. 1, 2, and 3) which mesh with beveled gears 2| on shafts 22 which have fixed thereto beveled gears 23 meshing with beveled gears 24 fixed on a shaft 25 (Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6). The shaft 25 has fixed thereto cams 26, 21, 28, and 29 (Figs. 4, 8, 9, 10, and 11). The cams are respectively designed to actuate lever arms 30, 3|, 32, and 33 (Figs. 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, and 11). The lever arm 30 is journalled onthe bearing 34 and the lever arms 3|, 32 and 33 are journalled on the shaft 35 fixed in the bracket 36 on the frame (Figs. 5, 6, and 11). The lever arm 30 is provided with a bearing 30' engaged by the periphery of the cam 26 and is pivctally connected through the link 31 with a lever 38 which is jo'urnalled on a bearing stud 39 on the frame (Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 11). A second lever 40 contains a slot 4i through which the bearing stud 39 projects. A spring 42, fixed to the bearing 43 andto the lever 40, biases the lever 40 in an upward direction. The lever 40 contains a slot or slideway 40 for the passage of the pintle 31' fixed to the link 31 and. journalled in the lever 38. The upper end of the lever 40 contains a slot 40" in which slides a. headed stud 38' threaded in the lever 38 so that the lever 48 is movable longitudinally relatively to the lever 38 but turns therewith on the bearing 39.

Reciprocation of the slide or lever 88 is'eifected by means of any one of a plurality of cams detachably and adjustably mounted on the frame bracket 45. Cams of variable and desirable contours are attachable to the bracket to effect reciprocation of the lever 48 in desired cycles and sequential movements. For the sake of illustration, one form of cam 44 having an appropriately shape cam face 44' for effecting one cycle of movement is shown and is engaged by a roller on the end of the arm 48. If desired, a movable cam may be provided and actuated through appropriate mechanism (not herein shown) to effect the desired sequence and amplitude of reciprocations of the member 48 (Figs. 1, 4, 5, and 6).

The lower ends of the lever arms 38 are each provided with double eyes 58 and the lower ends of the lever arms 48 are each provided with an eye 5!. By removing the bolts 3'8 and 38, the levers 38 and 48 may be readily detached from one another and the link 31 on one side of the loom may be connected with the lever 38 alone and the link 31 on the opposite side of the loom may be connected with the lever 48 alone when it is desired to feed but one thread from each side of the loom. When, however, a pair of wefts are to be fed from each side of the loom weft threads 52 and 53 are laid from the cops 54, mounted on stationary supports I (Figure 1) through tension devices 55 and guides 56 and are threaded through the eyes 58' and 5E and have a shaft 59 in the bracket 68. A guide pin 68' and weight tension device 60" are preferably provided adjacent to the jaw 58 to better control the thread; the Weight tension device being opened by the jaw 58 through a pin 68a on the tension device. As the thread is under some tension when held by the gripper, there may be some tendency toward a snap action when the gripper is released, which tendency of the thread is momentarily restrained by the action of the;

weight tension device 68", which when it has served its purpose is lifted by the further movement of the jaw 58 engaging the pin 68a.

The jaw 58 has fixed thereto a lever 68 (Fig. 10) through which the jaw is biased toward theclosed or gripping position by a plunger 62 pressed outwardly by a spring 63 whose tension is adjustable by means of a threaded plug 64. The opposite end of the lever 6| is engaged by the tail of the curved lever 3| and rocked thereby at desired intervals to open the jaw 58 (Fig. 10), against the action of the spring 63 when the threadcarrying arms 38and 48' have been shifted by the mechanism described to the full line position shown in Fig. 11.

A cutter is mounted in the bracket 68 adjacent to the gripper jaws 51 and .58 and comprises a fixed plate 65 and a rocking blade 66 journalled on the shaft 59 and-pressed along the same by a coiled spring 61 (Figs. 4 and '7). The cutter blade 66 has fixed thereto a lever 68 through which it is biased toward cutting position by a plunger '68 pressed outwardly by a spring 18 whose tension is adjustable by the threaded plug H (Fig. 9). The opposite end of the lever 68 is engaged by the tail of the curved lever 32 by which the cutter blade 66 is opened in synchronism with the opening of the gripper jaw 58.

When the weft shifting arms 38 and 48 are moved by the cam 26 and intermediate mechanism described to the full line position shown in Fig. 11, the gripper jaw 58 and the cutter blades 66 are moved by their respecfive cams 27 and 28 to the open position shown in Figs. 10 and 9. In this position of these mechanisms the ends of the threads 52 and 53 are held by agripper comprising a fixed serrated jaw 12 and a serrated rocking jaw 13 fulcrumed on a stub shaft 14 mounted in the off-set bracket I5. The jaw l3 has fixed thereto a bent lever 16 which is normally biased outward to hold the jaw 13 in closed position by a plunger ll pressed by a spring 18 Whose tension is adjustable by means of the threaded plug 19 (Figs. 5 and 8). The opposite end of the lever 16 contains an elongated slot 88 for the reception of a pin 8! fixed in the link 82 which is pivotally connected with the fulcrumed lever 33. When the cam 29 rocks the lever 33, the link 82 rocks the lever I6 to open the jaw 13 against the pressure of the spring '58. The cutter 66 and gripper 13 have adjacent thereto guide pins and tension devices similarto the pins 68' and tension devices '68".

In the preferred cycle of operations of the weft positioning mechanism described, beginning with the positions shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, it may be considered that lengths of the yarn 52 and 53 have just been inserted as loops and straightened out in the sheds as straight lengths each forming one leg of a hair-pin-like pair of wefts in the sheds of the fabrics being woven and that the yarns 52 and 53 are held by the gripper jaw 13 to prevent withdrawal of the picks just laid when the next succeeding loops are being drawn out. When the rotation of the cam 26 drew the levers 38 and 48 from the position shown in full lines to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 5, the lever 48 and the yarn 53 carried thereby were forced downwardly by the cam face 44' so that the thread 53 was looped under the guides 83 and 84 as the eye 5| of the lever 48 moved horizontally past the guides in moving fromthe full lineposition to the dotted line position (Fig. 5) and hence the yarn 53 lies in a plane vertically spaced from the stretch of thread 52 lying between the jaw 13 and the eye 50. Weft inserting devices 85 and 86 are movable in vertically spaced planes to carry the weft yarns 52 and 53-into the sheds of the fabrics or fabric. The movements of the weft inserting devices into the sheds draws thread from the cops 54 through the eyes 58 and 5| into loops within the sheds. During the inward movement of the weft, inserting devices, the lever 48 is elevated by. its spring 42 until its eye 5| is substantially in the plane of the eye 58, and both threads 52 severs the thread beyond the gripper 58 and per- I mits the severed ends to be inserted into the sheds of the fabrics.

After the withdrawal of the weft inserting devices 85 and 36, the further rotation of the cam 26 permits the spring 42a to reverse the described motion of the arms 30 and 40 so as to draw out a substantially taut thread between the gripper 68 and the eye 50 and to loop a section of the thread 53 around the guides 83 and 84 as a result of the downward motionof the lever 40- while turning about the fulcrum 39. When the levers 38 and 40 reach the dotted line position shown in Fig. 11, the weft inserting devices are again operated to draw loops partially into the sheds of the fabrics. Thereupon the spring 42 elevates; the shaft 40 from its dotted line position shown in Fig. 11 to its full line position shown in Fig. 5. In the latter position the yarns 52 and 53 are drawn beneath the jaw I3 by the continued movement of the weft inserting mechanism. When a loop of sufficient length has been drawn,

the jaw I3 is'closed and the jaw 53 is opened,

thereby permitting the free end of the yarn which had been held by the jaw 58 to be drawn into the shed. The mechanism is then in position, with intermediate sections of weft yarns held by the jaws I3, and the levers 38 and 40 in the full line position shown in Fig. 5 ready to repeat the cycle. As it is generally desirable that the wefts be inserted in the form" of hair-pins, it is ordinarily not desirable to provide the jaw 13 with a complementary cutter, but a cutter similar to the cutter 66 may be provided in advance of the gripper jaw 13 if'this should be deemed desirable to clip the thread after the drawing out of each loop instead of after the drawing out of a pair of loops. By threading the weft into either or both of the arms 36 and 40 on either or both sides of the machine, and by suitably varying the timing ofmechanisms, the shapes of the controlling cams and the relation of their movements to r the shedding mechanisms I, a large variety of types of wefts and of sequences of interlacings therewith of warps may be effected, the sheds preferably being changed after each insertion of the weft carriers into the sheds.

The weft inserting devices may be of any of the usual types of either free-flying or controlled weft inserters, and operated in any desired sequence, but for simplicity and flexibility of operation in conjunction with the weft positioning mechanism described, it is preferred to employ positive controlling means for the weft inserting devices, and to preferably provide pairs of weftinserting devices on each side of the machine. The weft carriers may be moved by such controlling means all the way across the sheds of the fabrics being woven, or the weft carriers on one side may be moved by their controlling means only part way through the shedand there deliver their weft threads to weft carriers operable by control means on the opposite side of the loom. Two wefts may be simultaneously inserted from one side, or one weft may be inserted from one side and another weft simultaneously inserted from the opposite side.

As illustrated in Figures 1, 2, and 3, the shaft I4 has fixed thereto the discs I00 containing cam slots I M for the reception of rollers I02 journailed on levers I04 fulcrumed on the bearings I05 and having on the opposite ends thereof beveled quadrants I06 whose teeth mesh with the teeth of the beveled pinions I01 fixed to shafts I08 :Iournalled in bearings I09 on the frame. -Arms I I0 are adjustably clamped on shafts I09 and have journalled therein spindles III (Figures 16, 17, and 18) to which are splined the slotted cross-heads or walking beams H2. The slots H3 and H4 on the opposite sides of the axes of cross-heads II2 receive the pintles II6 and'II6 projecting from. slides II! and H8 seated in the slide-ways H9 and I20. The slides H1 and H8 are held in their respective slide-ways by the spaced plates I2I, I22, and I23 (Figure 17) which are fixed to curved track-forming members and overlie slideways 9 and I20, but have slots I24 and I25 between them for the passage of the pintles H5 and II6.

The slides III and H8 have fixed thereto the bands or straps I26 and I2! which are movable in slide-ways I28 and I29 formed in the curved tracks I30. These straps or needles I26 and I2'I have sufficient flexibility to conform with the curvature of the slide-ways I26 and I21 without fatiguing, but suflicient rigidity to support themselves and weft carriers in-substantially horizontal planes when extruded from the slide-ways by the oscillations of the arms IIO. Plates I3I, having tapered ends, are fixed to the bottoms of the tracks I30 in the paths of the cross-heads I I2 so that when the arms I I0 are turned to move the cross-heads past the tapered ends of the plates I3I the cross-heads are rocked on their axes (Figure 18) so as to advance the straps I26 and retard the straps I21 sufliciently to compensate for the differences in the lengths of the slide-ways transversed by such straps due to their differences in radii. Consequently, when the straps are extruded from their slide-ways the ends thereof and the weft carriers mounted thereon are projected substantially the same distance into or through the sheds of 'the' fabrics being woven.

Each needle or band I26 and I2! preferably carries a head or shuttle provided with means for inserting a loop, for withdrawing an inserted loop, and-for transferring a loop,from the inserting means of one head to the loop withdrawing means of a complementary head.

As illustrated in Figures 12fto 14, inclusive, the needles on the opposite sides of the loom are provided with complementary heads each comprising a body 200 containing longitudinal grooves 20I and having grooved arms 202 projecting forwardly therefrom and containing notches 203 on the forward ends thereof. between them a slot or recess 204, and one of the arms 202 carries a thin boss or tapered opener 205 extending part way across the mouth or throat of the recess 204 and above the bight of the weft loops which may be stretched across such mouth and seated in the grooves 202 and notches 203. A stern 206' projects forwardly from the body 200 in a plane off-set from the plane of the arms 202 and contains an eye 20'! whose sides are formed by resilient fingers 206 terminating in a nose 209 which is split along a curved line 2I0 to permit ingress of yarn into the eye 201 when the fingers 208 are spread apart. A tapered boss The arms 202 have- 2 projects from one of the fingers 206 in posifrom one another, the fingers 208 of each stem indented to form notches 2113a. The stem 208a may be formed of an elongated wire hair-pin having its apex indented and split to form complementary hooks 208a which will be sprung apart by contact with a weft thread sufficiently to permit the entry of. such weft thread into the eye 201a. The escape of the thread from between the hooks 2080. is prevented by the shape of such hooks and the close juxtaposition thereof resulting from the resiliency-of the wire arms 286a forming the stem.

It will be understood'that in utilizing our invention in a wide loom, it is generally advantageous that the transfer of the weft from one head to another should take place intermediate the selvages of the fabrics being woven so that the inserting needles or straps I 26 and I2! need be only of sufficient length to project the transfer heads or shuttles half way across the loom. Where, however, the loom, or the fabric woven thereon, is relatively narrow, the needles or straps I26 and I2! may be made of sufiicient length to carry any transfer head 208 all the way across the loom or all the way through the shed or sheds of the fabric being woven thereon and the weft loop in such case may be drawn out at the selvage of the fabric opposite that at which they were inserted, or may be of only sufficient length to reach from one selvage to the other.

While, as above set forth, my improved loom mechanism is operable in a great variety of sequences, the following is illustrative of a desirable mode of operation thereof for the production of pile fabric on the double plush principle.

In the manufacture of double pile fabric, a pair of ground warps for the upper ground fabric, a pair of ground warps for the lowerground fabric, and one or more pile warps are threaded through the heddles I and operated by the loomharnesses in any usual manner. A pair of threads 52 and 53 are threaded in the eyes of the respective levers 38 and 48 on each side. of the loom and the arms 0 are adjusted so as to extrude the needles I26 and I21 from their slide-ways sufliciently to cause their complementary heads 200 to meet in transfer position midway.0f the loom.

The harnesses are operated so as to form a shed from the ground warps-of the upper fabric and a shed of the ground warps of the lower fabric and to change the sheds after each weft carrier insertion.

If the weft mechanism now be regarded as so positioned that a yarn 52 is stretched from the jaw 58 to the eye 58 of the lever 38, and a yarn 53 is stretched from the jaw 58 around the guides 83 and 84 to the depressed eye 5| of the lever 48 on each side of the loom, the extrusion of the needles I26 and l 2'| from the slide-ways on each side of the loom will cause the head 200 on each needle I26 to carry a loop of a yarn 52 intothe' shed from the left hand side of the loom will be transferred to the head about to be retracted to the right hand side of the loom, and vice versa,

and theloop inserted in the lower shed from the left hand side of the fabric will likewise be transferred to the head about to be retracted to the right hand side of the loom, and vice versa.

As these transfers take place in thecenter of the loom, the jaws 53 open to free the ends of the threads previously held thereby and the jaws 13 both close to grip the threads, which would otherwise be drawn therethrough by the retraction of the respective heads. The releasing of the thread ends held by the jaws 58 permits the respective heads 28!! to be retracted to their respective sides of the loom and to draw with them the respective yarns which have been transferred to their eyes in the center of the loom. As the heads retreat, the free ends of the yarns in their eyes are drawn through such eyes and the cut ends are of just suflicient length to reach the selvage opposite to the selvage where they were respectively inserted. This results from the fact that the weft supply is cut by but a single cutter 66 and the mechanism is so adjusted that the intervals between the operation of the cutter is sufllcient for the drawing out of a length of yarn equal to twice the width of the fabric being woven. The operation'of the gripper 13 relative to the weft lnserters is so timed that such gripper engages the yarns 52 and 53 when loops of suiiicient length have been drawn by the weft lnserters to extend, when the loop is straightened out, from the further selvage of the fabric to the gripper 13. As the cutter 66 cuts yarn lengths equal to double the width of the fabric, the second picks formed from a single cut length must necessarily extend from one selvage to the other when the bight of the hairpin is released by the opening of the gripper 13. It

will therefore be seen that when one leg of the hairpin-like pair of wefts has been inserted into a shed asa loop and is being straightened out in the shed as a result of the release of its free end'by the gripper 53, the drawing of too much yarn into the shed for a single weft is prevented by the engagement of the yarn by the gripper 13. When the first leg has been completely inserted, it is important to prevent it being wholy or partially withdrawn by the application of a pull thereto in drawing into a subsequent shed a sequential length of yarn in the form of a loop which is straightened out in the shed to form the second leg of the hairpin-like pair of wefts. Consequently, the gripper l3 retains its hold on the yarn until the second loop has been drawn into the shed and then releases the yarn so that such second loop may be straightened out and the bight drawn up close against the fabric selvage. v

When the heads 208 have been all retracted from. the sheds, the two legs of weft which have been inserted from opposite sides in. each shed are beaten up by the lay and the harnesses operate the heddles to form a new shed in each fabric.

Meanwhile, the arms 33 and 40 are movedby' the actions of the cams 26 across the paths of the heads 23', and such movements of the levers 38 and 43 draws off yarns from the cops and lays a section of yarn 52 from each jaw 13 to each eye 50 and lays a section of yarn 53 from each jaw 13 around each pair of guides 83 and 84 to each eye I. Such drawn out sections lie in the paths of the notches 203 in the respective heads 200. when the heads are again advanced, they draw yarn from the cops 54 through the eyes 50 and 5| to form loops of weft projectin into the upper shed and into the lower shed from each side of the fabric. Shortly before the complementa'ry heads come into transfer position, the jaws I3 are .opened so that the bights between the previously laid weft legs and the newly formed loops may be drawn by the heads close up against the selvage 'of the fabric.

As the heads again approach their transfer positions, the blades 66 are operated to cut the threads, and jaws 58 are simultaneously operated to grip the ends of the threads connected with the levers" and 40. Upon the retraction of the heads, the cut ends of the loops are drawn to the opposite side of the fabric to complete the other leg of a hairpin weft, which is then beaten up, and the sheds changed as before described. By this method of operation the upper fabrics and the lower fabrics each has a continuous sequence of hairpin shaped wefts with bights at the opposite selvages of the fabric. The legs of each hairpin are in different sheds and the bights thereof form good selvages, and a row of-pile tufts or of pile loops may be produced with each pered squared end movable into a similar socket in a rotor Mia Journalled in a bracket and oscillated at appropriate times by a fulcrumed lever Ilia against the action of a spring tending to bias the mechanism toward the retracted position of the weft carriers.

As illustrated in Figures 19 and 20, the needles may be independently operated by separately operable arms 0, and the tracks Ilia and l29a may lie side by side and have the same radius. 'I'o position the heads I! and 86 in spaced vertical planes, the needles supporting these heads may be diverged by a fork ll2a.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In a loomof the character described, the combination with means for forming warp sheds and a support for a compact supply of weft yarn outside of the sheds formed by the said means, of a reciprocable weft carrier movable into warp sheds formed by said means; a device positively controlling the movemehts of said weft carrier serted pick during the stretching of a subsequent weft length in the path of said weft carrier.

2. In a loom of the character described, the

combination with means for forming warp sheds and a support for a compact supply of weft yarn outside of the sheds formed by the said means, of a pair of complementary reciprocable weft carriers each movable into'a warp shed.

formed by said means-and each having-means I H combination withmeans for forming :warp sheds for making mnningengagement with apweft yarn; means for stretching the weft yarn in the path of reciprocation of one of said carriers; one of said carriers drawing yarn from said compact supply, forming a weft loop therefrom and inserting it in a shed and the other of said carriers drawing through said shed a part of the yarn loop formed by said first yarn carrier, and loom mechanism independent of the sheds for gripping said yarn and preventing withdrawal of an inserted pick during the stretching of a subsequent weft length in the path of said'flrst named carrier.

3. In a loom of the character described, the combination with means for forming warp sheds and a support for a compact supply of weft yarn outside of the sheds formed by the said means, of a reciprocable weft carrier movable into warp sheds formed by said means, a device positively controlling the movementsof said weft carrier throughout its travel into and out of such sheds, an oscillatory member for stretching a weft supply in the path of reciprocation of said weft carrier, a gripper for holding the end of said weft yarn while it is being stretched by said oscillatory member, said member making a running connection with a yarn drawn thereby from said supply, a clipper for severing said yarn, and means for operating said clipper after each complete oscillation of said oscillatory member.

4. In a loom of the character described, the combination with means for forming warp sheds and a support for a compact supply of weft yarn outside of the sheds formed by the said means,

of.a reciprocable weft carrier movable intowarp sheds formed by said means, a device positively controlling the movements of said weft carrier throughout its travel into and out of such sheds, and means for sequentially stretching a plurality of connected lengths of weft yarn from such supply in the path of reciprocation of said weft carrier and comprising a reciprocatory member oscillatable about an axis across the path of said carrier, a gripper for holding the end of said weft yarn while it is being stretchedby saidstretching means, a clipper for severing said yarn and means for operating said clipper after of the sheds formed by said means, of a recip rocable weft carrier movable into warp sheds formed by said means, a device positively controlling the movements of said weft carrier throughout its travel into and out of said sheds, and means for stretching a weft yarn from such supply in the path of said 'weft carrierand comprising two grippers, said weft carrier passing between said grippers into a shed formed by said first named means.

-6. In a loom of the character described, the

combination with means for forming warp sheds and a support for a supply of weftyarn outside of the sheds formed by said means, of a weft carrier movable into warp sheds formed by said means, and means for stretching it weft from said supply'in the path of said weft carrier and comprising two grippers alternately engaging yarn drawn from such supply, said weftcarrier in moving toward a shed aforesaid forming a loop --'z.-':-'1n?a., mem'flof ana characteridescribed, the

and a support for a supply of weft yarn outside of the sheds formed by said means, of a weft carrier movable into warp sheds formed by said means, and means for stretching said yarns from such supply in the path of said weft carrier and comprising two grippers between which said weft carrier passes in moving into a shed formed by said first named means, such movements of said weft carrier forming loops and drawing sections of sequential loops into said grippers alternately.

8. In a loom of the character described, the combination with means for forming warp sheds and a support for a supply of weft yarn outside of the sheds formed by said means, of a weft carrier movable into warp sheds formed by said means, and means for stretching a weft yarn from said supply in the path of said weft carrier comprising two grippers between which said weft carrier passes in moving toward a shed formed by said first named means, an oscillatory member movable transversely to the path of said weft carrier and carrying yarn across said path.

comprising two grippers between which said weft carrier passes when traveling toward a shed formed by said first means, means for opening said grippers alternately and an oscillatory memher for carrying yarn toward said grippers alter- I nately.

10. In a loom of the character described, the

combination with means for forming warp sheds and a support for a supply of weft yarn outside of the sheds formed by said means, of a weft carrier movable into warp sheds formed by said means, and means for stretching a weft yarn from such supply in the path of said weft carrier and comprising two grippers on opposite sides of the path of said weft carrier, a cutter adjacent to one of said grippers, said weft carrier passing in sequence one of said grippers, said cutter and the other of said grippers in moving toward a shed formed by said means first named.

11. In a loom of the character described, the combination with means for simultaneously forming a plurality of superposed warp sheds, of a plurality of pairs of complementary weft carriers, the carriers of each pair having means for transferring a-running weft loop inserted by one of said carriers to the other of said carriers, means for presenting a weft yarn to the loop inserting carrier of each of said pairs, grippers limiting the movements of yarn connected with the yarn supply into said sheds in forming certain picks, and clipper mechanism severing said yarn and thereby regulating the length of picks complementary to said first named picks, said first named means changing the sheds between the insertions of the complementarv picks. v

12. In a loom of the character described, the combination with means for simultaneously forming a plurality of superposed warp sheds, of a plurality of pairs of Weft carriers having flexible supports and simultaneously projecting weft from both sides of the loom to a point of transfer in each of said superposed sheds, each of said Weft carriers having means for effecting the transfer of a weft inserted from one side of said loom to a carrier withdrawing to the opposite side of said loom, a clipper cooperating with each.

pair of weft carriers for severing weft yarn, and means for operating said clipper after the insertion of a pair of picks by the weft carriers with which such clipper cooperates.

13. In a loom of the character described, the combinationv with means for simultaneously forming a plurality of superposed sheds, of mechanism for forming loops of weft simultaneously in each of said sheds, and means for simultaneously drawing out the end of loops in the superposed sheds toward the opposite sides of the loom, a clipper cooperating with each pair of weft carriers for severing weft yarn, and means for operating said clipper after the insertion of a pair of picks by the weft carriers with which such clipper cooperates.

14. In a loom of the character described, the

combination. with means for simultaneously forming a plurality of superposed warp sheds, of Weft carriers having flexible supports simultaneously inserting a loop in each of said superposed sheds from the same side of the loom, and means for clipping the yarn after the insertion of each pair of loops in each shed.

15. In a loom of the character described, the combination with means for forming warp sheds, of a pair of complementary weft carriers each comprising a head having spaced arms provided with weft receiving recesses, a stem having a closed eye and passing between the spaced arms of the complementary head and non-gripping means spreading the members forming said eye on the passage of said stem between the arms of a complementary head.

16. In a loom of the character described, the combination with meansfor forming sheds in different vertical planes, of weft carriers movable into said sheds, and means for stretching yarns in the paths of said weft carriers, and comprising a yarn stretcher and means for moving said yarn stretcher from the horizontal plane of movement of one of said weft carriers toward the horizontal plane of movement of the other of said weft carriers.

17. In a loom of the character described, the combination with means for simultaneously forming superposed warp sheds, of a pair of weft carriers of equal length and having flexible supports movable in curved paths of different lengths, and

means for compensating the traverse of said supports for the difference in lengths of the curved paths of said supports.

18. In a loom of the character described, the combination with shedding means for forming a series of sheds, a stationary supply of weft outside of the sheds, means comprising a positively controlled weft inserting and withdrawing unit on both sides of the shed -to draw off from the supply, insert and transfer the weft within the shed to lay a single pick of weft, two grippers and a cutter outside the shed for each inserting and withdrawing unit, means for operating the grippers alternately for every two picks inserted from the same side of the shed, and means for operating the cutter after drawing ofl weft from the of weft, two grippers and a cutter outsde the shed for each inserting and withdrawing unit, means for operating the grippers alternately for every two picks inserted from the same side of the shed, and means for operating the cutter after drawing off weft from the supply substantially equal to two continuous weft lengths.

20. In a loom of the character described, the combination with shedding means for forming a plurality of sheds, a stationary supply of weft outside the shed, means comprising a plurality of positively controlled weft inserting and withdrawing units on both sides of the shed to draw off from the supply, insert, and transfer the weft within the sheds, to lay a leg of a hairpin loop of weft, two grippers and a cutter outside the shed for each inserting and withdrawing unit,

means for operating the grippers alternately for every two picks inserted from the same side of 5 the shed, means for operating the cutter after drawing off weft from the supply substantially inserting-and-withdrawing unit moving into either shed.

ALBERT W. DROBILE. 

